WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – Major League Soccer champions Inter Miami, including superstar Lionel Messi, are scheduled to visit the White House on March 5, 2026, to celebrate their 2025 MLS Cup victory. The highly anticipated event will see the team meet with President Donald Trump, marking Messi’s potential first visit to the presidential residence and highlighting a notable moment ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The visit, confirmed by a club source to USA TODAY Sports, is slated to occur just two days before Inter Miami’s upcoming match against D.C. United at Audi Field in Washington D.C. While the team had not yet officially announced the plans, The Athletic first reported the specific date. The Miami Herald indicated that ‘everyone’ from the club is expected to attend, suggesting that Argentine World Cup winner and two-time MLS MVP Lionel Messi will be present for the celebratory ceremony.
Inter Miami’s Presidential Invitation
Inter Miami secured the 2025 MLS Cup on December 6, 2025, with a dominant 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. The upcoming White House visit follows a long-standing tradition of American sports league champions being invited to the executive mansion to commemorate their achievements. This particular event, however, draws additional attention due to Messi’s global stature and the political context surrounding presidential interactions with high-profile athletes.
For Lionel Messi, this visit would be a significant personal milestone. He was previously unable to attend a White House ceremony in January 2025 when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden, citing a scheduling conflict at the time. His presence now would underscore the team’s historic 2025 season and his continued impact on North American soccer.
Messi’s White House Debut
The timing of the visit is particularly noteworthy as the United States, Canada, and Mexico prepare to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. President Trump has engaged with other prominent soccer figures in recent months. Last November, soccer’s all-time leading goal scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, attended a black-tie dinner at the White House when President Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Should Messi attend, it would mean President Trump will have met two of the sport’s greatest figures within a five-month span leading up to the global tournament.
A Tradition with Modern Twists
While White House visits for championship teams are customary, the tradition has faced scrutiny and controversy in recent years. Following the Winter Olympics, for instance, President Trump invited both the gold-medal-winning men’s and women’s hockey teams, but the women’s team notably declined their invitation. Despite such instances, Inter Miami’s visit signals a continuation of the tradition, further blending the worlds of professional sports and national politics.
The upcoming visit by Inter Miami and Lionel Messi to the White House underscores the increasing intersection of global sports icons with American political tradition, transforming a customary celebration into a moment of significant public and media interest, particularly with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.